What Is A Reverse Car Camera?

A reverse car camera is a camera mounted on the rear of a car that provides a view of the area behind the vehicle and not to be confused with your typical dash cam installation. One of the main differences is that, dash cams are generally installed in the interior of the car, whereas the reverse camera installation, takes place on the exterior of the car. When the driver shifts the car into reverse gear, the camera is activated and sends a video feed to a screen on the dashboard or rearview mirror, allowing the driver to see what’s behind the car.

The camera is designed to provide a wide-angle view and can help the driver to avoid collisions with other vehicles, people, or obstacles when reversing. Reverse car cameras are becoming increasingly common in modern cars and are often included as standard or optional equipment on new vehicles.

Why Is It Important?

After putting it to the test, a reverse car camera is important because it can help prevent accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. When a driver puts a car in reverse, the rearview camera displays a live video feed of the area behind the car on the vehicle’s dashboard screen or rearview mirror.

That allows the driver to see potential obstacles or hazards that might be hidden from their view, such as children, animals, or objects that might be in the car’s blind spot.

In addition to preventing accidents, a reverse car camera can also help drivers parallel park, back up into tight spaces, and manoeuvre in and out of parking spots with greater ease and accuracy.

Overall, a reverse car camera is an important safety feature that can help drivers operate their vehicles more safely and confidently, particularly in situations where visibility is limited.

Where Do You Put a Reverse Camera?

As per our expertise, a reverse camera is typically installed at the rear of a car, usually just above or below the license plate for optimal vision. This allows the camera to capture a clear and expansive field of view behind the vehicle.

However, the exact placement of the camera may vary depending on the specific make and model of the car, as well as any accessories or modifications that may already be installed on it. It’s important to consult the manufacturer’s instructions or seek professional installation to ensure the camera is placed in the optimal location for your vehicle.

How Much Does a Reverse Camera Cost?

There are factors that determine the cost of a reverse camera, including brand, features, user-friendliness, and quality. Drawing on our observations, a basic reverse camera is usually priced at around $200 and up to $500. Of course, there are higher-end models with more features like wider angle lenses, wireless connectivity, and night vision that can cost more. It really depends on your own preferences, how we see it, if safety is paramount, then you should be opting for at least a mid-tier reverse car camera. There is really no point if you go for a lacklustre, because you will soon realise when that unfortunate accident happens, that the footage is not reliable and difficult to watch.

Other than the price of the camera, it’s also necessary to consider the installation cost, which would cost you similar to that of a dash camera, but perhaps slightly more due to the increase complexity of the installation. Do note that these reverse cameras are installed on the exterior of the car whereas rear dash cams are placed in the interior (easier to install). Reverse car cameras should not be confused for a one channel dash cam installation because they are completely different in the hardware and installation. 

It’s important to note that the cost of a reverse camera may also vary depending on the type of your car. For instance, if your car already comes with a factory-installed display, the price of a reverse camera may be lower than if you need to purchase a separate display for the camera or if you have a hybrid car, it may introduce greater variables to the installation process.

Types of reverse camera

Through our practical knowledge, there are typically two types of reverse cameras:

1) Wired reverse camera

This type of camera is connected directly to the car’s wiring system. The camera is typically mounted on the rear bumper, and the wiring runs through the car’s interior to the display screen. Wired cameras tend to provide a higher quality image and are generally more reliable than wireless cameras.

Reasons to use a wired reverse camera:

Better image quality: A wired camera provides a better image quality than a wireless camera because it doesn’t have to rely on a wireless signal to transmit the video feed. The video signal is sent directly through the cable, resulting in a clearer and more stable image.

More reliable: Since a wired camera doesn’t rely on a wireless signal, it’s more reliable and less prone to interference. This is particularly important when driving in areas with a lot of wireless signals or other sources of interference, such as large cities or near airports.

Longer lifespan: A wired camera has a longer lifespan than a wireless camera because it doesn’t rely on batteries or other components that may wear out over time. The cable connection is also less likely to become damaged than a wireless connection.

Better for large vehicles: Wired cameras are particularly useful for large vehicles, such as RVs or trucks, because the longer cable can reach the monitor without losing signal strength. Wireless cameras may struggle to transmit the signal over longer distances, resulting in a poorer image quality.

No need to worry about signal strength: With a wired camera, there’s no need to worry about signal strength or signal loss, as the video signal is sent directly through the cable. This means you can focus on driving and parking without having to constantly check the camera signal.

2) Wireless reverse camera 

This kind of camera uses a wireless transmitter to send the video feed to the display screen. The camera is mounted on the rear bumper, and the transmitter is usually powered by the car’s reverse light. Wireless cameras are generally easier to install than wired cameras, but they may suffer from interference or signal loss, which can result in a lower quality image.

Easy Installation: One of the main advantages of wireless backup cameras is that they’re easy to install. Unlike wired backup cameras, which require you to run a cable from the camera to the display unit, wireless backup cameras can be installed without any wires or cables. This makes installation faster and easier, and can save you money on installation costs.

Convenience: Wireless backup cameras are also very convenient to use. Since there are no wires or cables, you can easily move the camera from one vehicle to another, or even use it on a trailer or RV. This is especially useful if you have multiple vehicles or if you frequently tow a trailer or RV.

Integration with other Systems: Finally, wireless backup cameras can be integrated with other vehicle systems, such as GPS or navigation systems. This can provide additional features, such as showing you the distance to the nearest obstacle, or automatically switching to the backup camera view when you shift into reverse.

Must have features of a reverse camera

Some of the must-have features of a reverse camera, according to our firsthand assessment, includes:

Wide-angle view: A reverse camera should provide a wide-angle view to allow you to see as much of the area behind your vehicle as possible. A 120-degree angle is a common standard for backup cameras.

High-resolution display: The display screen of the camera should be of high resolution to show clear images and video of the area behind your vehicle.

Night vision: A reverse camera needs to have night vision capability to provide a clear view even in low-light conditions or at night.

Parking guidelines: Some backup cameras provide guidelines on the display screen to help you manoeuvre your vehicle in tight spaces or parking spots.

Waterproof: As the camera will be installed outside the vehicle, it should be waterproof to withstand rain and other weather conditions.

Automatic activation: The reverse camera should activate automatically when you put your vehicle in reverse, making it easy to use.

Parking sensors: Some backup cameras come with parking sensors that alert you when you are getting too close to an object while reversing.

These features are essential to ensure that your reverse camera works effectively and provides you with the necessary information to reverse and park safely.

Other important things to note before buying a reverse car camera

Here are other important things to note before buying a reverse car camera:

Know your budget: Determining your budget is important before you start shopping, since it will help you narrow down your options and ensure you don’t spend more money than you should.

Choose the right type of camera: Various types of reverse car cameras are available on the market, including wired or wireless, with or without a monitor, and mounted on the bumper or license plate. Pick the type that best suits your needs.

Pay attention to the camera’s resolution: Choose a high-resolution camera to ensure clear and sharp images. When it comes to camera resolution, higher is always better.

Check the camera’s viewing angle: The viewing angle is an important factor to consider as it determines how much of the surrounding area the camera can capture. Look for a camera with a wide viewing angle to cover more areas.

Look for night vision capabilities: A camera with night vision capabilities is ideal, as it allows you to see clearly even in low-light conditions.

Check for waterproofing: Since the camera will be exposed to the elements, it’s important to look for a camera that is waterproof to prevent damage and ensure longevity.

Read reviews: Before making a final decision, read reviews from other customers to see what they have to say about the camera’s performance and durability.

By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision and choose the right reverse car camera for your needs.

With over 64% of Australians admitting to being involved in a car accident (by budget direct), now is the best time to have your car fitted with a dash camera. A large culprit for accidents has come down to rear-tail accidents and this comes to no surprise that the front and rear are the 2 common areas dash cams are being fitted. To take advantage of parking-mode enabled functionality, hardwiring a dashcam to your car battery is the clever choice many Australians are making as opposed to connecting to the cigarette lighter. In fact, car theft is still at a high rate considering how advanced thieves are becoming daily.

All you need to do is find a dash camera that suits what you need and want along with the hardwiring kit, then give our team a call. We will arrange one of our technicians to come visit your home, office or workplace to securely fit your dash cam installation. Our technicians come fully equipped with the tools to fit it in a prime location in your car.